Tottenham Hotspur started the new Champions League season with a win on Wednesday evening. The English were 2-0 too strong for Olympique Marseille at home. Richarlison, who came over from Everton this summer for more than sixty million euros, was the big man in London. The Brazilian scored his first two goals in service for his new side and shot Tottenham to victory.
Antonio Conte opted for Richarlison alongside Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane in the attack on Wednesday night, forcing Dejan Kulusevski to settle for a spot on the bench. Newcomers Clément Lenglet and Ivan Perisic also started in the base. On the side of Olympique Marseille, Eric Bailly, who came over from Manchester United on loan, started from the kick-off. Dimitri Payet was sitting on the couch.
Spurs ahead!
Richarlison can head in freely and makes the 1-0 for his team #ZiggoSport #UCL #TOTMAR pic.twitter.com/ppOwJJ5EZo— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 7, 2022
Tottenham were close to the opening goal five minutes before half-time. Son was sent off with a deep ball by Richarlison, after which the former gave the ball to the upcoming Kane. The Englishman searched for the far corner with a placed shot, but saw his attempt go more than a meter wide. Tottenham and Marseille were not inferior to each other in the first half. Less than two minutes after the break, the French had to continue with ten men.
Son was faster than Chancel Mbemba, who tried to tap the ball away from the South Korean with a tackle. Because the defender was the last man and came too late, he had to leave the field with a red card. Kane was unable to cash in the free kick that followed. Conte then smelled blood and switched offensively: right back Emerson for right winger Kulusevski. That paid off fifteen minutes before time.
It was Richarlison who scored the opening goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Brazilian was not covered in the penalty area and was able to head in a pass from Perisic: 1-0. In addition to the goal that broke the ban, it was also the first goal in the service of the Spurs for the attacker. It was impossible for Richarlison on Wednesday evening, because five minutes later he also headed in the 2-0 after a cross from Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg.